Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf says he will meet with representatives of Hazara community next week. PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA/ ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Saturday took serious notice of Balochistan situation and on the request of provincial government, ordered the Frontier Corps (FC) to extend assistance to the civil administration for maintaining law and order with all powers of police.
After a meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who apprised him of the latest situation in Quetta, the Prime Minister also ordered the immediate dispatch of a C-130 for shifting those injured in the Quetta blast to Karachi for best medical treatment.
Later in the day, the aircraft transferred 15 of the wounded and 16 attendants to Karachi.
Compensation to the tune of Rs1 million each for those who were killed and Rs100,000 for the injured persons were also announced.
The Prime Minister directed provincial and federal law enforcement agencies to work in coordination with the provincial governments. He asked Governor and Chief Secretary Balochistan to keep him updated about the latest situation of Quetta. The provincial government was also directed to leave no stone un-turned in ensuring the safety of the citizens in the province.
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani was also asked to return from Dubai.
Despite calls from the people in protests across the country, the prime minister said he will meet with a delegation of Quetta’s Hazara community next week to learn more about their grievances and attempt at solving them.
The Prime Minister said that all measures would be taken to safeguard the lives of the citizens and that the Federal Government was ready to provide all assistance to the provincial government of Balochistan to take measures for people’s safety.
Khursheed Shah meets with Quetta protesters
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Saturday met with leaders of the Yakjehti Council who have been protesting in Quetta’s streets since Friday. Shah said that elements creating law and order situation in Balochistan would not be spared at any cost and called for collective measures to fight back the mindset furthering their version of Islam in the country.
Talking to reporters, the senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader and religious affairs minister said that no one would be allowed to kill human beings on the name of religion. "Killing human beings is not in the Islam, we are following, it is a mindset which persisted in across the country."
Shah, while dispelling the possibility of Governor rule in Balochistan in wake of recent incidents of violence, said that the prime minister is in contact with the Governor of Balochistan over the law and order situation in the province and has asked the Chief Minister to reach Pakistan without any further delay.
The minister also rebuffed the impression that the army would be involved to arrest the worsening law and order issue in Balochistan, saying delegating of police powers to the Frontier Corps was a message for anti-peace elements that they would now not be spared any more.
Earlier, government delegation comprising Federal minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, provincial ministers including Tahir Mehmood, Maulvi Sarwar, Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad and Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durani held talks with the Yakjehti Council.
The delegation to continue their protest but do so after burying the dead. The Council though declined and called for targeted operations against the perpetrators of the twin blasts, and for imposing Governor rule to maintain peace in the region.
COMMENTS (29)
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The violence unleashed by Taliban and sectarian outfits continues unabated with Shias bearing the major brunt lately. There appears to be a lack of co-ordination and even state will to fight both Taliban and LeJ by both civilians and military establishments. The military is engaged in negotiations with Taliban factions not to attack them and some agreement is reported to have been reached between the two leaving the civilians at the mercy of these barbarians. Military has also successfully diverted the focus from Western to Eastern border by indulging in unnecessary skirmishes and inhuman acts, a ploy to give a message to its people of looming threat from India in-order to wash off its hands from the internal security duties. In light of above, Taliban and sectarians attacks shall increase disproportionately and poor Shias, civilians and even police forces would become the main targets and likely-hood of postponement of elections appears to be on the cards.
This killing is a business now and all are forced/motivated/convinced to call it sectarian killing not shia genocide so with this mind set 75% responsibility of President,PM,CMs, Governors, interior minister ,large crops of seniors cvil officers is finished and armed forces have no concern now after motivating,grooming,training,arming and spreading in every nik and cornor of the country in 90s.Only GOD can change the mind set otherwise keep crying,this our destiny and luck.
Best solution. Form a Commission to investigate. It has always worked, be it memogate or US raid on OBL or conversion of hindu girls.
"The provincial government was also directed to leave no stone un-turned in ensuring the safety of the citizens in the province." Who will turn the stones when according to Shaami Lahori above, "The Chief Minister of Balochistan is enjoying in Dubai and the rest of the ministers of Balochistan are living in Islamabad then who will run Balochistan?".
"Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani was also asked to return from Dubai ", If I recall correctly, Blair was in Washington DC and rushed back to London when the news came of Sub way bombings but it seems these so called Pakistani leaders has to be told to leave and take care of their provinces. Come next elections please send these PPP leaders home for a long time to come and perhaps make them an example so the other parties will not emulate them.
Better listen to them and army should be asked to provide security gefore they too are pushed against wall like bengalis to ask from someone else!!!! Afterall they are not asking for moon.....
And then he woke up from deep sleep with his blurry vision trying to recognise things around him and was flabbergasted to see that his regime was toppled in mere 36 hours.
The root of the problem lies in Punjab, where the criminals of SSP and LeJ operate with impunity. Unless their sanctuaries are closed down, and their criminal masterminds are arrested and brought under justice, the patch up or taping the problem won't help.
Nothing is going to change. This NRO based 'democracy' and generals addicted to dollars do not care what happens to the common man.
i dont know my comments will approve or not for publish.But i wanna say somthing about this dirtiest situtation of pakistan.It has been seen already when army want control on goverment they change the situation all over pakistan.sudenlly blast kills 100 people long march get start situaton on indian border autometically increase the tension. One day u ll see army again in rule.(badluck)
Even Priminister has no time for the aggrieved community till next week. If they were from Punjab or Sindh ,he would have gone to see them in their very village. The Chief Minister of the Balochistan is a joker of any third class theatre. Federal Govt is even not serious to address any issue in that very unfortunate province. If history repeats itself and Balochistan becomes another Bangladesh, it will not be a surprise because enough is enough.
FC will only aid the Lashkar e Jhangvi! To think that these crime are being perpetrated without their aid is not only wishful thinking its plain stupidity!
who made this guy the PM who does not know what the situation is. Why does he want a delegation to tell him what the situation is? Why doesn't the govt. sack the CM who does not care about his province and would rather enjoy his holidays? Why has the Govt. not arrested the leaders and workers of LeJ who have claimed responsibility for the blast?? why is the army chief silent now and reluctant to take action??
Even the jungle has a law. is Pakistan worse off than a jungle??
The Protests are completely justified.
Unfortunately, the hands of our government is full with the blood of the innocent victims. The government still openly allows Lashkar-e-Jhangvi to operate and even their leader has been released by authorities.
I’m sorry to say this being a Pakistani but the fact is our Government is sponsoring terrorism within the country !.
May God give comfort to the families of those who have died in the horrendous attack.
Rogue government, inhumane and coldblooded killers, and the rest of us with no spines to stand up for an innocent community being pushed to the verge!
They only reluctance to call army is that army will eliminate terroristsWe have uncovered their true face that they have taken money for blood of innocents but army cant take money nor they fear death like other institutions.
Thanks to all the ministers of Balochistan. This might help the people of Balochistan to realize for whom to vote in the coming election.
Our shameless politicians. We vote for them. We deserve this.
And no guards for you after you retire
No governor rule yet but rest assured, Raisani's time is up
Shame on u Govt [PPP] ...
Staying in power is more important than safety and security of people. Shame....
I do not understand why had the PM wait for a year of hazara killings and the grievers to put the coffins on the roads to announce that the FC will move in ? Why it was not done when the SC ruled that the local provincial government has failed to maintain law and order in the province?
PM, what FC will do with the powers of Police in Quetta?
Will the FC be able to halt the suicide blasts?
Why you think that people of Pakistan are fools.
Had your own brother or son have been killed in Quetta, would you have passed the same orders?
You and the PPP government is shame for the entire nation.
If you have some feelings for the deceased and their family members, you should announce that you are stepping down, but the problem with you and the PPP government is that no matter what happen to Pakistanis and Pakistan, you will only go after completing the entire tenure of your government.
They have never been interested in doing anything good for the nation... They are just doing politics of power whatever the cost may be. This callousness of today will sooner or later come to their own homes.
These lunatics have no idea on what's goin on. Or probably they are agents to cripple the country to a point of no return. Of course I am referring to the government
The Chief Minister of Balochistan is enjoying in Dubai and the rest of the ministers of Balochistan are living in Islamabad then who will run Balochistan.?.